Suspended sentence for man who punched woman in antisemitic Shoreham attack
Victim assaulted after attempting calm discussion at Gaza-related stall, court hears
A man who punched a woman twice in the face during an antisemitic attack in West Sussex has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Romilly Hudson, 44, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 16 March. The court increased the sentence from eight months to reflect the racist element of the offence.
The attack took place at around 1.25 pm in January 2025 in Shoreham, when the victim approached a Gaza-related market stall being run by Hudson and others. Prosecutors said she had intended to engage in a calm and reasoned conversation.
Instead, Hudson directed antisemitic abuse at her before launching an unprovoked assault, punching her twice in the face. She was left with bruising to her face, eye, and ear.
Hudson has previously pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court in October 2025 to racially or religiously aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, as well as a separate charge of racially or religiously aggravated harassment. He had earlier failed to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court in July 2025 when facing the charges.
In addition to the suspended sentence, he was ordered to pay a £120 fine – increased from £80 due to the hate element of the offence – and was made subject to a restraining order that bars him from entering Shoreham-by-Sea for one year.
Kris Venkatasami, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the victim had simply sought a peaceful exchange.
“The victim in this case wanted to have a reasoned and peaceful discussion with people, but Romilly Hudson did not want anything of the sort,” he said.
“Instead, he shouted a stream of highly charged and incendiary racist abuse at her, before launching an unprovoked attack and punching her in the face.
“No one should be subjected to violence and abuse based on their race. That is unacceptable, and the Crown Prosecution Service is clear – antisemitism has no place in our society.”
The Crown Prosecution Service said the successful prosecution underlined its commitment to pursuing racially and religiously aggravated offences.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
